Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas once again reiterated that he will not
resume peace talks until Israel renews its settlement moratorium.

In
an interview broadcast Sunday evening on Channel 1 Abbas said, "When
Obama became president he was the one who declared that the 'settlement
construction must be stopped.' The United States says it, Europe is says
it, the whole world is saying it – why should I not say it?"

Abbas said that there is worldwide consensus regarding the construction freeze.

Abbas told interviewer Oded Granot "when we went to Annapolis, everyone
who was present – more than 50 states – said that settlement building
must be stopped. At the same time, President Bush said 'we shall carry
out this mission and supervise it. We shall create a freeze committee to
supervise the construction freeze in settlements.' We relied on Bush's
statement and went ahead with negotiations."

The Palestinian Authority president
said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had explained to him that
he could not comply with demands to extend the freeze. "Netanyahu told
me: 'I cannot under any circumstance because I fear for my government.'
Government is not more precious than peace. Government is not more
precious that the future of both peoples," Abbas said.

Education
Minister Gideon Sa'ar (Likud) also commented on the direct negotiations
on Sunday and said that "the Palestinian Authority prefers to adopt
strategies that aim to de-legitimize Israel and isolate it to the world
instead of conducting peace talks."

Sa'ar also warned that anti-Semitsm was again rearing its ugly head in Europe and in the world.